I wish to welcome all of the Digest readers, Carnival Captains, vendors and revelers and others to my column.

 Since others feel that it is my background in the industry which gives me the creditability to comment on Carnival, the field of costuming, and the designs of late, I feel that I must explain to the readers about my background in the industry.

 I am a fashion designer having worked in the fashion industry on 7th Avenue in New York in the theater district for the past 20 plus years. I have been involved  in the entertainment world which gave me an introduction into costuming for Broadway Shows, Ballet theater, Opera and many other facets of Show business. It is safe to say I have dressed many famous people of the stage, in Hollywood movies and television.

Pictured: This San Nicholas original was put together for a very well known Zulu Queen. This piece is currently in the State Mardi Gras Museum. Notice that the rear collar frame is riding only on the subject's shoulders and no belt is required to keep the frame balanced!

 The holiday of Mardi Gras has always been very special to me and a great period of sheer fun as well. When Krewe royalty offer you the opportunity to design their regal robes for their upcoming events, the offers are more than just an assignment. These offers represent a chance to be extra creative, to coordinate the theme, the person, and the festive nature of the celebrations ready to transform them from ordinary citizen to Carnival royalty able to stand out in any one of a dozen presentations. Carnival continues to be a wonderful part of the city of New Orleans and has been so for many years and a complete joy to the natives. The revelers do not see it this way always, however, most times they are too busy to really notice. 

  When I close my eyes and look back at Carnival, I remember it much differently than it appears now. As the sights, sounds, and emotions come flooding back to me, the strength of my convictions also return the feelings that it took to get me this far. It took a certain type of dedication to the art to entertain and present a wonderful and magical experience that people would talk about for weeks afterwards and remember for a lifetime.

 In New Orleans, the themes are still relevant, the presentations are also still good, but the locations of the many ball which were held in the last few years, lacked the excitement and the glamour of the old days. It may be that I miss the Municipal Auditorium, just that much. The building was, and still is the most beautiful settings for the many balls we hold.

It was the scenes, the glitz, the glammer and feeling the emotion of knowing it is my turn to experience the very pinnacle of New Orleans society and culture. It is a very personal thing to allow yourself to be swept away to distant lands, to allow the expression new ideas, along with the invited patrons and guests. It was great, seeing the ladies and gentlemen dressed in their formal attire and milling about in the lobby with their friends as they waited for the other guests to arrive and the ball to start. Somehow all that gave you a warm and beautiful feeling inside, and the ball tableau gave those same people a real show!

Pictured: Also in the State Carnival Museum in New Orleans is the original costume worn by Pete Fountain. It too is a San Nicholas original!

  Today, the presentations are really very good, but the costuming has simply reached a new level of mediocrity, a sameness in the overall shows. The captains do their best, but there are some things are simply outside of their control.

 It is very difficult to even complain, knowing what it takes to assemble, stage and pay for these events each season.  Too tell the absolute truth,  personally, I don't think we even should! However, there lies the real concern in all of this! There are some that will always fall short, and those are the clubs that will make it up in other facets of the show.

Yes..... Let's all remember this, that it is a free show. Let us also remember that like it or not, say what you think or....not....there will always be critics. We should and do thank the Krewe Captains for what they produce each year. 

So ..... When it is over, .... all said and done, would you want to know how you did? Could you handle what a professional thought of your outfits, your presentation of the gowns? Can clubs handle real critique, the kind you value beyond all others, and the type which some organizations may or may not want to receive? Some clubs really do, while others just do not care what they put out there

Pictured: Inside the Museum standing at the exhibit bearing his name, Mr. Nicholas shows some of the many styles of costumes designed over the years!

 Of course there are other krewes out there which charge major money to attend their balls!  It's beginning to become big business now. They do have good intentions. Most of all they have a full paying house. It is more or less a big party. People seem to love it. It's all Mardi Gras. If you are charging people however, expect a critique every now and then!

 It isn't me that will ultimately judge these costumes, it is you, the revelers, plus other clubs..... that this burden will fall too. I don't envy you this task either, because some of these costumes will be very hard to come to any consensus on. However I will listen to the public as they judge and will be grading both me on honesty and the shows on their merits.

 Before I go, one more thing!  This year was a great moment in sports as the Saints wining ruled the day. A great celebration ensued because after all the Who dat nation had endured, this was their time, their destiny! This was something that once underway could not be stopped! I was even lucky enough to be asked to design an original costume for coach Sean Payton's ride.    

I'll be back next month with my first comments about the industry!

San Nicholas           

An Award winning designer, who was originally trained in New York, to be the costumer to the Ballet & Stage theater industry, San Nicholas moved back to his childhood home of New Orleans in 1972. He designed his first Mardi Gras piece for a Krewe and has been setting styles and fashion in the Carnival industry ever since! Firsts include very seductive pieces, and the original design for the now very popular over the head background elements. His designs include costumes for many of the most prestigious clubs such as Zulu Social Aide & Pleasure, Krewe of Aquila, Endymion, and others over the years.

San Nicholas can be contacted by email sanichl@mardigrasdigest.com or by telephone @ 504 -756-9456